Package for butter or similar substances



(No Model.)

R, R. STREET. PACKAGE FOR BUTTER 0R SIMILAR SUBSTANCES. I

Patented Apr. 24,1883.

- UNITED STATES ATENT' O FICE.

ROBERT R. sTREET, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PACKAGE FOR BUTTER-O R SIMILARSUBSTANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,199, dated April 24, 1883 Application filed January 29, 1883. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT R. STREET, of Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packages for Butter or Similar Substances; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompan yin g drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this the interior of the sides of the firkin or other vessel at desired points, and which are usually arranged parallel with each other or with the bottom of the vessel. Said loops are usually detachably secured" to the interior of the walls of the vessel, so that they will remain in position while said vessel is being filled, and have their meeting ends extended outwardly through small apertures in the side of the vessel. One or more loops surrounding the mass contained in the package are thus formed, which loops, by drawing upon one or both ends of the wire "or string forming the same and exposed at the apertures mentioned, will be forced through the mass, thereby severing it into one or more layers, according to the number of loops drawn out. In a firkin or tub in which butter is placed several of these loops will be arranged elastic to remain in place in the annular groove made for it in the interior of the tub or firkin while the butter is being packed; but string or other flexible material may be used in its stead.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the firkin having a portion of its side broken away and showing my invention in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the firkin shown in Fig. 1, said section being taken on the line of one of the wire loops.

A is a butter-firkin constructed in the ordinary manner.

B is a mass of butter or similar substance placed therein.

0 are the wire loops used for severing the mass of butter into several layers, of which loops three are shown in Fig. 1, being placed horizontally at equal distances apart. The upper loop in said figure is shown as partially drawn out, in order to illustrate the operation of the invention.

In the interior of the tub A shallow grooves b are preferably formed, corresponding in number with the wire loops 0 and adapted to receive them. Inthe side of the firkin A, and connecting with the grooves 12, if present, are small apertures 11, through which the ends a of the wires 0 extend to the outside of the fir kin, such ends being preferably twisted to, gether and bent down against the side of the firkin, so as to be out of the way in handling it, as shown.

The loops 0, as above mentioned, are preferably made of wire, having sufficient rigidity to remain in the grooves 11 while the butter is being packed in the firkin, though such wire should be sufiiciently fine and flexible to be drawn readily through the apertures 11 in the operation of severing the mass of butter into layers, and light and thin wire is also desirable on account of cheapness and because it will more readily pass through and cut the butter. The wire 0 may also be covered or protected from corrosion by being galvanized or covered with a coating of any suitable material for this purpose, and, if necessary, the holes through which the ends of the wires pass may be additionally stopped by pegs of wood or other means.

Instead of wire, string, tape, or other flexible material may be usedto form the loops 0, which loops may be held temporarily in place while packing the vessel in any one of anumber of ways. A narrow loop of tape may, for instance, be pasted around the interior of the vessel, from which it will readily become detached by drawing upon the ends thereofin the operation of severing the mass in the vessel, as before described.

Instead of extending both ends of the loop outwardly through the aperture in the side of the vessel, as shown in the drawings, one of said ends may be secured to the interior of the vessel near the said aperture and the other end extended through it, by which end the loop can be drawn out andthe same effect produced as before described; or the loop may be placed entirely within the vessel and in position to be accessible through the aperture in the side thereof, so that it can be drawn out by a hook or other implement suitable for the purpose.v

In thelast case mentioned the holes by which the loops are to be reached may be'bored only when the firkin is ready to be emptied, the proper points for cutting the holes being duly indicated on the outside of the package.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a package of butter or similar substance, the combination, with the vessel and its contents,ofmeans forming part of the package for severing the contents into parts or layers while in the vessel, substantially as described.

2. In a package of butter or similar substance, the combination, with the vessel and its contents, of one or more flexible loops' .receptacle for butter, or similar substances, of

a flexible loop arranged around the interior sides of said receptacle and accessible through an aperture in'the latter, and means upon the inner side of said receptacle for retaining the said loops in position while the butter or other substance is being packed therein, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a firkin or other receptacle for butter ora similar substance, said receptacle being provided with an annular groove in its inner surface, of a flexible loop placed in said groove and adapted to be drawn out through an aperture in said receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claimv the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT It. STREET. 

